Govt to replicate Siyalima success story

GOVERNMENT will continue setting up more community irrigation schemes like Siyalima in Guruve as the initiative is a commendable example of climate change adaptation and resilience building, Mashonaland Central crops and livestock officer Mr Stancilae Tapererwa has said.

The Siyalima Irrigation Scheme is a Government-supported community project in Guruve comprising 98 farmers who grow various crops on the 50-hectare farm.

Speaking at a field day at the irrigation scheme recently, Mr Tapererwa said: “Government will continue to set up more community irrigation schemes like Siyalima as the initiative is a commendable example of climate change adaptation and resilience building.

“Siyalima is a success story of community irrigation schemes as it comes first less than a year after being commissioned by President Mnangagwa.

“Predictions by the Meteorological Services Department show that the country will experience an El Nino weather condition which will be characterised by normal to below normal rainfall this season as such I want to advise you to stagger your planting.”

He said it was important that farmers embrace irrigation technology in the face of the climate change to achieve higher yields as the answer to the spiralling prices of basic commodities.

Other winners at the competition were Negomo Irrigation Scheme which came second and Nyamavanga (third place). Mr Tichaona Muriro came first in the Agritex extension worker category while Mr Edmore Chipuriro was the best Agritex supervisor.